When Sam Rutigliano coached the Browns, he would say he liked being the favorite in betting houses because favorites usually win.
That stating of the obvious does not bode well Sunday for the Browns currently coached by Rob Chudzinski, because they are huge underdogs in their game against the Packers at Lambeau Field. In fact, the 10-point edge favoring Green Bay in Lambeau Field is the biggest spread in the NFL this weekend.
The Browns are not impressed or worried.
“You can use it as fuel,” tight end Jordan Cameron said Friday. “I think some of our guys do. We want to go into each game knowing that we can win the game and believe that. If you think otherwise, you’ve got no shot, so we always have to believe we have a chance.”
Unlike FirstEnergy Stadium to the Browns through the years when it was known as Cleveland Browns Stadium, Lambeau gives the Packers a home-field advantage. They have won nine straight at home, 22 of their last 23 and 28 of their last 30.
The Packers home record is the best in the NFL since the 10th game of 2009, one game better than the New England Patriots, whom the Browns play in Foxboro, Mass., on Dec. 8.
“They have a great tradition over there,” Browns running back Willis McGahee said. “At the end of the day, we can’t worry about who’s on the other side of the ball. We have to worry about what we need to do.”
McGahee could play a key role in the Browns’ chances of pulling their biggest upset of the season. He leads the Browns with 164 yards rushing. But they have been tough yards earned. He scored one touchdown in the four games he has been with the Browns and is averaging 2.8 yards a carry.
Offensive coordinator Norv Turner wants to call running plays against Green Bay. Wherever he has had success as an offensive coordinator or head coach in the NFL, he has had a superb running back on the roster — Emmitt Smith in Dallas, Ricky Williams in Miami and LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. The three have a combined five NFL rushing titles.
Turner does not have that stud running back in Cleveland. Trent Richardson was not one while he was with the Browns and he hasn’t been one in four games with the Colts. But without Richardson, Turner’s running backs are McGahee, Chris Ogbonnaya (12 carries, 64 yards) and Fozzy Whittaker, who has yet to carry the ball. Bobby Rainey had 13 carries for 34 yards but was waived Friday.
McGahee has picked up most of his yardage between the tackles and will probably take the same path Sunday.
“He can get outside but I think he has to go inside to get there,” Turner said. “We have an unusual situation. We’re making the best out of it.
“McGahee’s giving us plays. Ogbonnaya’s giving us plays. Now we’re going to use Fozzy a little bit and see how he does. No question, it’s a group effort.”
Running successfully would keep Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the sideline, where he can do no damage with his golden arm. It would also take the burden from Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden, who could best put last week’s disaster behind him with a good game in Green Bay.
“It still gets back to third downs,” Turner said. “If we can convert third downs then you’re able to keep the ball a little bit longer.
“We have to function where we are as a football team. We have to take care of ourselves and we have to do the things that we do best. We have to eliminate negative plays whether it be a sack or an interception or those types of things. We know we’re going against one of the best offenses in the league, one of the best quarterbacks in the league. So certainly, it’s important that offensively we execute.”
The Browns rank 25th on third down offensively (34.4 percent) with 32 conversions in 93 third down situations.

About the Author

Jeff has covered the Cleveland Browns since 1981. He also covers the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League and the Cleveland Gladiators in the Arena Football League. Reach the author at jschudel@morningjournal.com
or follow Jeff on Twitter: @JSBrownsInsider.